Detailed Roleplayers discussion
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Andra and Lara
She smiled and nodded, believing his masked delight was in fact real. Demons were good at hiding their emotions, but they never had a reason to in front of their own kind, so Lilith didn't expect a thing. "Mhm." She said happily. "I'm going down to visit our dear boss." She said, smiling. "Wanna come? Maybe you could stop by and say hi to your little... friend." She laughed softly. Her figure wavered slowly, as she prepared to leave the body she was in to descend into hell. Lexi was chained to the gates of Hell. Thick silver lengths of chain holding her in place. Her body was covered in ugly bruises and long gashes. Frankly, it burned. Her back was raw where she had been lashed. Her throat was dry, and yet there was no water anywhere in this inferno. Lexi blinked her eyes open slowly, moaning. Her whole body felt as if it was on fire with pain. This... this was hell.
"I think I will join you, though later. I have a few things to wrap up," Eli agreed, stepping back from Lilith. He was going to have to get away from her, because the last thing he needed was a meeting with Lucifer. Lucifer was smarter than Lilith; every internal struggle Lilith couldn't see would be evident to him. And so there was no way he could go with her.The thing about 'having to wrap up something' was bullshit. Just an excuse. Eli made sure to keep the lie off his face, confident in the knowledge that Lilith would shrug it away and he could return to Hell later. It would be easier to stay on earth until he figured out what the hell his problem was. His own thoughts made him want to do nothing at all, just let heaven and hell duel it out by themselves, Lexi or no Lexi. But he couldn't do that. He just couldn't leave her at the mercy of everything Eli had already endured for eons himself.
Lilith nodded, shrugging. "Your choice Eli. Ill see you down there." Her form wavered drastically, and then there were two people in the room. Lucie, and Lilith. Lucie fell unconscious on the floor, and Lilith descended through it with one last smile at Eli.A large dark demon with huge leathery wings soared up to Lexi and grinned evily at her. Lexi immediately whimpered and cringed, struggling to get out of her chains. The demon moved closer and stroked her hair gently, causing her to cry out in fear.
"You will open the gates little one." The demon hissed. "You will unleash hell on the world, and watche your race die."
Lexi's eyes widened and she shook her head feverishly. "I-I will not."
The demon pulled out a long blade. "You will when I am done with you." He stabbed the knife merilessly into her shoulder.
A scream tore from Lexi's tortured lungs.
Eli breathed out slowly, eyes closing as he tried to think of his next move. Which was going to be tough seeing as he wasn't exactly sure whose side he was on anymore. He was a demon, he couldn't be anything else. He was governed by Lucifer. And if he tried to help Lexi, then he was doomed to worse than he had ever felt before. He could barely remember the time when he had been human, before Hell. But whatever he had done to deserve the pit, this was a million times worse because now, he was displeasing Lucifer, not the heavenly host. Rubbing a hand over his eyes, he turned on his heel and started down the stairs, leaving the candle and other parts of the spell where they sat. Eli needed to find out where Lucifer would put Lexi once she was in Hell, and for that, he needed to do some research. He hated research.
~~~
Sitting down with a Bible in front of him, he flipped quickly through, finding descriptions of Hell. The local librarian had been surprisingly helpful, despite the odd look at his requests. Finding the page he needed, he quickly opened the other tome as well.
Lexi was shaking, blood dripping from the three wounds in her limbs. Still she had managed to not give in yet.The demon seemed to be having a good time. He smiled at her, before carving a long gash in her forearm slowly. "Nothing personal sweetheart. Lucifer has big plans for you, and he happened to choose me to help you along. All you have to do is open the gates you're chained to. Ill stop right away."
Lexi squirmed, tears streaming down her face. She kept shaking her head.
The demon laughed softly. "Stubborn are you? Lets try something new." He flicked his finger a little then, and memories flooded Lexi's mind.
She immediately screamed, thrashing despite her injuries.
"No! Stop! Please, not again!" She begged, her tears flowing freely.
Now her heart was breaking along with the pain in her body.
The demon smiled. "Will you open the gates?"
Lexi nodded weakly, whimpering.
Closing the two books with a thud, Eli stood suddenly. He knew where she would be. At the gates. If she was there of her own free will or kept there forcefully, he didn't know. But she had to be at the gates. He ran out of the library, disregarding the hey's and watch out's that followed him, and skidded to a stop in a dark alley. He stopped, and his form flickered, and then there were two Eli's, before one crumpled to the ground, out cold, and the other, an indistinct form, sunk into the pavement with a slight exhale of black smoke. The only sign of the demon was the faint smell of sulfur.He landed a ways down from the gate. Looking up the hill, he could see the black wrought-iron gates, seemingly with nothing keeping them closed except a small latch that couldn't be locked. But her knew better. Only one who wasn't meant to be in Hell could touch the gates. All others would burn.
Pulling two knives from their sheaths (Eli had kept the projection of his human vessel) he made his way quickly up the hill, but careful to keep out of sight from the patrolling demons. Up ahead, beside the gate, were two silhouettes. One he immediately recognized as Lexi, the other had to be a demon, seeing as it had wings.
Lexi's head was bent forward, her shoulders had a defeated air, and it wrenched at Eli's non-existent heart to see her like that. He broke into a run, almost forgetting the threat of other demons, but managing to keep himself still hidden.
Lexi was shaking violently. Her body was in pain, her heart was cracked into a thousand pieces, and now she was to unleash terror on the world. She swallowed, her mouth dry. Tears tracked long lines over her face, smudging some of the blood on her face. The demon in front of her didn't seem to care. He had accomplished what he had come for. He unlocked the chains holding Lexi slowly, deliberately letting her slump painfully on her abused body before catching her and dragging her to the latch on the huge gates that guarded hell. "Open it." He hissed.
Lexi closed her eyes shut tight, her broken heart pounding painfully.
Unhappy that she was taking so long, the demon grabbed her hair and pulled her closer to the gates, supporting her weak body solely by her ponytail. "Open it." He hissed.
Lexi didn't look up. She just raised a shaky hand and gingerly wrapped her hand around the cool metal of the gate, undoing the latch, and slowly opening it.
The demon cackled in triumph as a roar stirred in the depths of hell. A sound so terrifying.
All hell had been set loose.
The demon dropped Lexi, letting her slump to the ground, before using his wings to take off to the sky, heading towards earth.
All rational thought left his mind as he sprinted with abandon towards the now open gates, as a shriek more horrible than anything Eli had ever heard before tore through the stagnant, hot air. Everything logical had left as soon as those gates had opened and Lexi had fallen to the floor, and he was acting on pure instinct. "Dammit, dammit, dammit," he muttered as he skidded to a halt beside Lexi.He didn't even look at the gates.
He dropped to his knees beside Lexi, hand reaching hesitantly towards her. "What did they do to you," he whispered in horror as demons flew overhead without noticing them. The air was filled with dark smoke now, and wind swirled everywhere, though it didn't seem to bother the demons. The gates' hinges squeaked out their protest, as if even they did not want to see Hell loose on the world.
Lexi's head was pounding, and the shriek of a thousand demons filled her ears. She winced and moaned softly, shifting to try and get up, but she had no energy to do so. She just collapsed feebly again, relaxing against the stones. A puddle of blood was growing larger beneath her from all her wounds. That was when her eyes blinked open slowly and she saw three people above her... no wait... just two... nope... just one. She blinked a couple times and frowned, and then she recognized him, and a small whimper escaped her tortured lungs. Her eyes grew wide and she tried desperately to scramble away from him.
As Lexi jerked away from him, Eli's face went blank and he wiped any unnatural thoughts from his mind. "Hold still," he ordered harshly, more angry at himself than at anything else. And most definitely not angry at Lexi. Closing his eyes, he let a little bit of whatever it was keeping him in this semblance of living to her, making her wounds close up slightly. He knew there would still be scars, but at least her ribs weren't broken anymore and she wasn't covered in cuts.Grabbing her roughly by the shoulder, he pulled her up. "You have to get out. Now." Barely waiting for her, Eli pulled a knife from its sheath at his belt. He couldn't let himself think about what he'd done; because what was done was done, and unfortunately for him time travel wasn't a thing yet.
And he couldn't let himself think about the look in Lexi's eyes when she had recognized him, red fire reflected on top of something much, much worse.
Right now, all he could let himself think was that he had to get Lexi out of Hell.
Lexi's wounds started to close up and she sighed in relief as the burning went away some. She wasn't completely healed, but at least most of the cuts, and all of the broken bones were fixed. Then, before she could think much of anything, she was yanked up and facing Eli. He said something to her, and then pulled out a knife. His words fell on deaf ears, as all Lexi could do was stare at that weapon. Why was he here? Was he going to plunge that horrid blade into her again? Wasn't one time enough?
She started to visibly tremble, her face paling at least two shades. She didn't have energy to pull away from him however, so she was frozen in place, her heart pounding faster than a hummingbird's wings, her breathing ragged. Oh please God don't let him kill me again. She begged silently. Her heart hurt. Hurt from his betrayal.
A look of realization crossed Eli's face as he followed Lexi's stricken gaze to the knife in his hand. "Dammit," he muttered, aimed entirely at himself. He slid the knife back and then more gently than he remembered ever doing anything in his life, he took her by the shoulders and forced her eyes to meet his."Lexi. Listen. I'm going to get you out of here. I know you have no good reason to trust me, but I promise. If it's the last thing I do, I will get you out of Hell." Knowing what he knew, Eli was positive that he wouldn't make it out of Hell alive. But he would make sure Lexi would. "I will not hurt you. Not again."
He owed her that much.
Lexi watched him carefully, like a mouse watches a sleeping cat. She was wary around him, but as he talked she felt her fear start to dwindle. There was a certain sincerity in his voice when he said he would not hurt her, and some other emotion that she couldn't quite pick out. Once the fear fell away, the pain in her heart took over and tears stung her eyes. "Why?" She asked, her voice breaking. "Why did you kill me Eli?" A tear slipped from her eyelid and traveled slowly down her cheek. "I trusted you." Her lip quivered and she looked up at him, pain in her eyes. She had thought of him as a friend, possibly one of her only friends... and then this.
A small sob escaped her lips. "And now this?" She asked, choking on her words. "I obviously deserve to be here. So why would you even try to get me out? You sure went to great lengths to get me down here in the first place." She said, breathing heavily through her nose as she tried to keep from breaking down. She was dangerously close to the edge.
"I should've told you this before." And without giving himself enough time to think his words through or to weigh the consequences, Eli said, "I'm a demon. I'm like them. Maybe I was human once, but Hell killed any last shred of humanity within me. So now... Now I'm a demon and I work for one being. Lucifer. And what he tells me to do, I do. And the only reason you're here is because he wants you to be here. He wanted you to open those gates, so he planned it just so you would. At some point in your life, you did something that warranted your place in Hell, but sure as earth it was because Lucifer set it up."Once he had started talking, it was like he couldn't stop. All these things he had never told anyone, he told Lexi. "And he told me to kill you. I didn't question." Eli's eyes were filled with bitter resignation as he looked at Lexi, and then closed them momentarily, head tilting away and down. When he opened his eyes again, the green was gone. They were black again, black and dark and without hope, just like him and just like he should be.
"You should never have trusted me," he said harshly, but every last ounce of the savageness was directed at himself. "And I wouldn't expect anything more right now than distrust piled upon distrust. I'm not asking for your trust. All I need is for you not to hesitate, so that I can get you out of Hell and back where you belong."
Lexi listened to him without interrupting, her heart starting to pound harder and harder as she listened. So Eli hadn't killed her because he wanted to. He killed her because he had to, because he was forced. Lexi relaxed a little, her expression loosing its fear, to be replaced only by sorrow. She noted that his eyes switched from green to black, and she wondered if the green meant that he still had some humanity in him. Maybe just a touch. Just a small inkling of hope. She looked up at him slowly, chewing her lip. "If you're a demon, and you were sent to kill me, then why didn't you do it right away?" Could it be that he had had reservations about killing her? If that was true, if he was willing to defy Lucifer, then maybe he was someone she could trust.
She sighed softly. "Maybe I shouldn't have trusted you Eli, but I did, and I..." She looked up at him. "I still do. I don't believe you're all dark. There is some humanity left in you Eli. I've seen it. And that, is why I trust you." she finished, her voice soft. She looked back at the ground again.
Realizing his hands were still on Lexi's shoulders, Eli dropped them to his sides, something squeezing painfully tight in his chest. He didn't deserve her trust, he didn't deserve anyone's trust at all. And the sorrow in her eyes, with that little bit of hope... It killed him. Tore at him, demanded his allegiance and the humanity that little bit of hope said he still had, but he couldn't give allegiance or humanity. Because there was no humanity left. He had to believe that himself, or everything would just come crumbling down. There was nothing but demon and evil left in him, because that was what Hellfire did. It burned everything that may have once been good away.
He shook his head slowly. "Don't, Lexi. Don't believe in me like that, don't trust me, don't hope there's still something humane left in this empty shell. When you find out that belief, that trust, that hope was misplaced, all I'll be doing is betraying you again. And I can't do that again. I can't." His last two words were whispered forcefully, angry and hopeless and begging for understanding all at once.
Lexi looked up at him sadly, now more sad for him than herself. He had been through hell, literally, and this was what was left. But everything could be patched together with time, and Lexi was suddenly fiercely determined to help him in anyway she could. So what if he didn't have any humanity left. She could give some to him, and help it grow. She could help him nurture it. "If there wasn't any humanity in you Eli, you would have killed me when you first saw me. You would have killed me at any chance you had when we were alone, and there were a crap load of moments like that." She said, standing taller, more stubborn now. "There's always hope. If there's one thing I learned from my screwy life, that's it." She said, sighing softly. "I trust you, whether I want me to or not. That is just the fact of the matter. If I do not hope, then not only am I betraying myself, I am also betraying you. It's my choice Eli. I've made it. You won't be betraying me again. I promise." she said softly, looking up at him.
Lexi's hope was like nothing he had ever seen before. Maybe, when he had still been human, before he had fallen to Hell, he had seen hope like that. But hope was the last thing one could find in Hell. It was desolate, everything awful that it was hard to even parallel to reality. Dante Alighieri hadn't come even close. Eli shook his head slightly, unwilling to let her words affect him. Sentiment was for the foolish - and for those still alive. He was dead, past dead, something more than just a ghost. He was a demon, and demons didn't have sentiment or humanity or mercy or any of those things Lexi wanted him to have.
"I can't make you not believe what you want to believe. I tried to warn you. But if that's a false flame you want to keep carrying around with you, then yes, it is indeed your choice. Just-"
Eli didn't know how to put it into words. Just don't let me betray you again, just don't trust me quite so much.
Just don't trick yourself into thinking I'm something worth saving.
Each and every one of those phrases filtered through his head, but none left his mouth.
His hand came up to brush against her cheek, briefly, before pressing a knife into her hand. "You'll need this."
The sorrow she saw in his eyes dug deep into her soul. She would find away to bring the old Eli back. She had seen that Eli when she was talking to him on earth. This Eli may be cold and dark and have forgotten the meaning of hope, but she hadn't, and it was something she would cling onto. She would keep hoping for him, and never stop until she found that humanity she knew she could wake up in him. He may have buried it, but she would keep digging until it surfaced. She stared at the knife he had pressed into her hand and she started to tremble. "What am I going to need a knife for?" She asked nervously. "I don't even know how to use it!" Then she realized something. He would be using the knife if he didn't think they'd be separated. "Are you not coming with me?" she asked softly, her eyes suddenly filling with fear again.
"I'm coming with you as far as I can," Eli replied, refusing to meet her eyes again. "Don't lose the knife. Unlike normal blades, this one actually kills demons." He pulled out his gun from the back of his jeans and a clip from his jacket pocket, loading the gun swiftly. "I'll be able to hold them back with this, but it won't kill them." Now he was strictly business, no hint of the neat breakdown he had almost just had. There was absolutely no emotion in his voice, just plan and do, action and strategy, and no emotion. Emotion just weighed you down, held you back. It was so much simpler to not have a soul."Aim for the neck or chest, face and dominant hand are the next best targets. Don't think, just slice. If they get too close to you, don't hesitate. Stick them where it'll hurt." He shrugged and added, "Knee them in the balls. They still have human bodies, even if the human souls are gone." Now Lexi had the quick version and there was nothing left to say, only the thoughts swimming behind his still pitch black eyes and clouding his judgement. He needed to snap out of it. Finally looking Lexi in the eye, he asked, "You ready?"
Lexi frowned a little. So he wasn't planning on coming the whole way... She swallowed slowly and stared at the knife. It killed demons? Well then it would definitely be helpful. Lexi stared at him then as he taught her how to fight in only a minute. She nodded at everything he said, trying to file it away into her brain so she would remember it. Don't hesitate. Hit them where it'll hurt. Ok. Got it.... I hope. She thought to herself. She was still thinking about fighting when he asked if she was ready. Paling a little, she nodded slowly. "Yeah." She croaked, not feeling very ready. But then again, she knew she would never be.
"Ok, this is the plan: we have to follow the path most of the demons took." Eli gestured with his gun through the gates. "There's a sort of steep hill - go up. At the top there'll be an archway. It looks like you're jumping into fire, but just jump. It's a gate to Hell, and it goes both ways. You'll come out wherever it decides to drop you - I'm hoping that won't be the middle of the ocean." Eli knew that wasn't exactly the most comforting thing he could have said, but he wasn't one to dance around the facts. He gave it like it was. "Technically, we're in a different dimension. That archway is a tear in the time-space fabric separating the dimensions. It's only open at certain times, every few millennia, unless enough of something decide to force it open all at once. Hopefully all the other demons will be too busy getting out of Hell to notice us. By the time we get to the rip itself, they'll have seen us. I'll get you through the doorway. Don't look back." What he left unspoken was don't look back or you'll see me getting torn to shreds. "Now run. I've got your back."
Lexi frowned slightly, evaluating his words. She was trying to process everything he said. She still wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to do. She was sort of in a daze from shock, but she did snap back to reality when he said 'run, I've got your back.' She immediately spun and started sprinting as fast as she could towards that fiery tear at the top of the hill. Demons were pouring through it, and into where? Who knows. She locked her eyes on the flames, running with all her might. The demons were thick now, and she prayed that none of them would notice her. Unfortunately, she was not so lucky. One demon turned and looked back suddenly, and she ran right into it. Backing up in shock, she stared at the large demon as it slowly growled at her, and its eyes flashed. Aim for the throat, aim for the throat! Was all she thought, before she lashed out and killed it. But its screams as it died started to attract the attention of other demons. With her heart pounding in her ears, Lexi leaped over the dead demon and kept running as fast as she could.
((I am so so so sorry that I haven't replied in absolutely forever. First school was really crazy with end of the year stuff, now I'm overseas with limited access to WiFi and/or a laptop. I'm really sorry again, and I hope we can continue? I really love this plotline.))Eli was only a few feet behind her, his long legs keeping up easily with her headlong sprint. As Lexi stopped to slay the demon, he turned on his heel and began firing shots at the demons closing in from behind. His mouth was pressed into a grim line and his hand was steady on the trigger. Lexi took off again for the door, and Eli sprinted past the dead demon, sulfur blowing in the heated air around it. In the back of his head there was a distant pride, but first and foremost was basic survival instinct, fight or flight, live or die. There was time enough for pride later. As he ran, he reloaded the gun quickly. They were almost to the gate bow.
((And I'm triply sorry about that ridiculously short post, I'm on my phone and long posts are a pain and I'll stop making excuses now sorry!))
((Lol it's ok. I was in a similar situation actually. I just came back from overseas two days ago :P Hope you have fun! And yeah, I love this one. :) And don't worry about it, I totally understand :) ))Lexi had her eyes locked on the gate. The sulfur was starting to choke her and sting her eyes, but she was determined to make it. Even though her legs were burning, she forced them to move faster, her heart pounding in her ears. She was only a couple feet away from the door now, and she couldn't stop a small smile from crawling across her face. They would make it! They were home free! She turned then, to make sure Eli was following.
((Haha, thanks! For everything! Where did you go? :) ))Eli was sprinting a few feet behind Lexi, firing off rounds at the demons closing in around them. The bullets did little more than slow them down for a little bit, but it was better than nothing at all. When he saw Lexi's head turn and her pace slow - and so very, achingly close to the gate - he felt a slow, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Safety, or as close to it as she could get, was a mere yard away. He needed to see her through. It didn't matter if he got through or not; he didn't matter. So why was Lexi turning to look at him, sacrificing an extra second of safety?
And when the shadow fell over her fiery red hair, a sliver of hope died in him. "Duck!" he shouted, legs pumping faster as he ran right at her, firing his last shots towards the giant demon. Right before barreling into Lexi, he grabbed the knife from her hands and swerved to meet the demon, knife poised for attack as the two clashed. "Run!" he shouted to Lexi, wrestling the demon away from where it blocked the gateway.
((All over England for a week, and then all over Italy :) ))Lexi didn't see the large demon until it was too late. And by that time, Eli had wrenched the knife from her hand and was facing the beast. Lexi stared at the monster of a demon, and then at Eli. Her instincts told her to run, to not care about this boy who had betrayed her. But her heart said something entirely different. Conflicted, she started a slow jog towards the gate. "Come on!" She cried, as she was just about to leap through the door way. "Come on, please come with me!" She said, gesturing for Eli to follow her. She couldn't just leave him here... That would prove her to be a betrayer, and she didn't want that. And for some reason, she still wanted Eli to be ok.
((Oh my god, that's awesome!))The demon lunged towards Eli, claws outstretched, and he dodged to the left, parrying with the blade. Lexi was shouting something at him, but through the din surrounding them, he couldn't make out the words. He slashed at the demon's side, a feint, and as it went to protect its side, Eli's knife traced an arc through the air and towards its neck. Too slow, though, and the demon already had a hand up to block with. But his knife was a constant blur, and as it bit into the demon's left side, Eli turned slightly to look at Lexi, yelling at her to get through the gate. Why was she waiting? What was there left in Hell that she couldn't take that final step and just jump?
A sharp pain in his left shoulder made him spin his attention back to the demon, who was bow grinning, Eli's black blood dripping from its claws. "Brother," it growled. "I did not recognize you, helping a fly. A bit beneath you, no?" With a snarl, it attacked again, Eli stumbling sideways beneath the onslaught. Another arc of his knife, and the blade slit the demon's neck into a second grisly smile.
Lexi watched, sucking in a sharp breath each time the demon attacked Eli. She was tense, afraid to watch, but unable to pull her eyes away. The demon called Eli his brother and Lexi frowned. What was with that? Did demons call eachother brother? Ot were these two related. Just then Eli slashed up through the demons neck and Lexi smiled in relief. "Come on!" She urged again. But he couldnt seem to hear. Lexi knew they had to go while there was a break in the enemy lines. So she ran back, grabbed Eli's wrist, and pulled him to the gate.((Yeah. It was lots of fun :) ))
((That's exciting! Ah, I sort of wish I could hop on the Chunnel after my own trip's over xD I met two sisters at the Gorges du Verdun who own a coffee shop in East London and now I'm craving London xD ))A hand encircled Eli's wrist, wrenching him away from the smell of sulfur and yellow and black dust motes spinning through the air, and into the present. He didn't need more urging. Gripping the knife securely, he broke into a sprint, now dragging Lexi more than she had been dragging him. "Almost, almost, almost," he muttered, keeping an eye behind him to track the progress of the oncoming demons. They were so close he could smell the relief of having Lexi safe and on earth. One more yard... Legs straining, he pulled Lexi closer, wrapped an arm around her waist, and jumped straight into the burning slit in the air in front of them.
((Oh nice!))Lexi kept running until she felt Eli start to run beside her. Then he was ahead and tugging her along. She did her best to half run, half leap after him. Then she felt him scoop her up into his arms and leap through the portal. Lexi felt the searing fire and she whimpered as they passed. When they arrived in the real world, she looked around, her eyes wide. It wad complete and total chaos. A cry escaped her lips. She was the cause of this, and she was in shock.
The fire barely bothered Eli as the two jumped through the rip in the sky. They landed hard, Eli bending his knees, dropping forward, and rolling with his head tucked under instinctively. In the brusqueness of the landing, Lexi was jerked from his arms, and when he stood again, she was staring at the sky, eyes wide, as dark smoke flitted across the pale blue sky, an innocuous background to something so much larger than the world had ever seen. The portal was no longer behind them; it had moved on to deposit its next load of demons god only knew where. Instead, old stucco and brick walls rose around them, and there was cobblestone under his shoes. Somewhere in Europe, Eli thought, making his way back to Lexi. "Are you alright?"((Where would you have them land? Like what city?))
((Saw your post on the request topic... Hope you had fun on your trip!))
((Thanks. :) Yeah. It was lots of fun. Ummmmm how bout they land in.... london or Paris?))Lexi watched, her eyes wide with horror as she took in the view around her. The world seemed a whole lot darker than she remembered it. This may have been from the smoke rising from buildings that were being burnt to the ground, or it could have been from the wings of thousands of demons, shredding the normally blue/grey sky. Lexi choked down a sob and sank to her knees just staring. Her heart was pounding out of control, not able to take so much strain. She had been betrayed, tortured, and then forced to do the same on the rest of the world, and it was too much for her sensitive spirit. In that second, Lexi snapped. She crumpled into a sorry sobbing little pile on the sidewalk, hugging her limbs to herself and hiding her face from the reality she wanted to forget.
((That's rather perfect, because besides Bucharest, those are the two cities I know the best :) Would you rather them have lingual problems, or just stick with London and English speakers?))
((Great! :) We can have them have a couple lingual probs if you wish :) ))
((Paris it is, then!))Eli had been turning a slow circle, effectively blocking out the noises of destruction echoing from around him as he tried to identify where they had landed. It wasn't hard - neither the blocking out or the identifying. Sounds of death and destruction were second nature to him. What else did one find in Hell? And it wasn't that hard to figure out their location if you listened closely enough. The screams of hapless humans were guttural and quite clearly French. Paired with the architectural style and the iron tip of the unmistakable landmark peeking over the top of an apartment building, it was easy to see that they were in Paris.
A sound, not out of place in the chaos - in fact he heard it paralleled throughout the streets - but there was something about it that made him spin around. Lexi had collapsed on the sidewalk, knees pressing into the rough stone of the street, arms wrapped protectively around her torso, and her face hidden. Eli couldn't see her face, but he knew from the shaking of her shoulders and the way her fingers trembled that she was sobbing - full out, from the hear, dredged up from the last recesses of her heart. The tears were her hope, Eli knew, rolling down her cheeks and seeping into her shirt. He had cried like that once, and when he had stood again, he hadn't had any hope left. But he had stood in Hell, and when you stand in Hell and there's no hope left, you have become a demon. But because this wasn't Hell, Eli knew he couldn't watch Lexi stand again without hope - because if there was one thing he had promised, he had promised to get her out of Hell. And a life without hope was a hell unto itself.
So he dropped to his knees beside her, and more gently than he could remember ever having doing anything in his long, long life, wrapped an arm around her torso and let her cry onto his shoulder.
Lexi felt herself shattering. Her heart was slowly cracking and breaking through into a million pieces. She had only felt this way once before, and it was a long time ago, a time she had tried her whole life to forget. But now she felt it breaking again, the walls she had put up, the protections. Every memory she had tried so hard to push down was resurfacing and flying at her, and slowly, she felt herself sinking down into something black and cold. It scared her, and yet it numbed the pain at the same time. And then something changed. Something started to tug her to the surface of the inky black ocean she had been sinking in. She vaguely felt herself get pulled into Eli's arms, and then held there. She bit her lip and turned her face into his shirt, her trembling calming a little. Yes, he had killed her, but he had saved her again. And that made her feel a sense of peace in his arms that she had never found anywhere else.
Her pale hand curled around some of his teeshirt, holding it like she would never let go. Yes, the world may be ending, but she felt safe here, and that security helped her heart rate to start slowing, and her trembling to ease.
Under his arms, Eli could feel her shaking begin to subside, and he could breathe a little better knowing that she was coming back up from that pit. He knew where Lexi had been headed, and he was glad she wasn't there anymore. More glad than he had ever been of anything, ever. A small prickle in the back of his mind of some long forgotten memory screamed false! but he ignored it, easily. If he couldn't even remember what it was, then what was the point of worrying about it? It was probably some memory that had been wiped from his mind by centuries in Hell. Slowly, he drew back slightly, lifting Lexi's chin with a fingertip. "Alright?" he asked quietly, trying to ascertain that the hope she should have in her eyes wasn't gone. There was something in her eyes, but Eli couldn't tell what it was. But he did know one thing. It wasn't hopelessness he saw in her eyes, because then her eyes would be flat and dead. And Lexi's eyes were just as alive as ever, if a little more watery and a little more shaken and scared.
((Sorry that was so little, I'm exhausted. Next one will be better, I promise.))
Lexi met his eyes slowly when he lifted her chin. She chewed her lip, not sure how to answer that question. She was alright compared to how she was two seconds ago, but compared to most regular people, she was not doing well. She nodded however. "Yeah." She said softly, her voice shaking a bit. To be honest, she was terrified. Never had she seen destruction like this, and what was worse, was that it was caused by her. Not to mention that all she had gone through in the past couple hours was still branded in her mind as if it was happening at that seconds. Her wounds still burned in her mind, and she could feel every second of what had happened. The only thing that was holding her together was quite literally Eli's arms. He was protecting her, and he was the only thing between her and breaking.
Eli nodded, unsure if he should believe her or not. But it's not like he had another option, because by now time was a commodity, not a given. The longer they sat here, the easier of a target they were. But it was hard to tear his eyes away from hers, for a reason he knew but couldn't remember. Setting his jaw, he stood and pulled Lexi up with him, still supporting her partially. "Then we have to move," he said quietly, a silent apology lacing his words. He understood how she felt. He knew that moving would push these thoughts from her head. This was a good thing for some people, but not so good for others. There were people who would collapse again as soon as they stopped to think about it, and often enough they didn't get back up. So Eli just had to pray - to whom, even he didn't know - that Lexi would be alright, and that this wouldn't kill her. Kill her physically, kill her mentally, it didn't matter. He just wanted every part of her alive. He tried not to question this want of his, because questioning brought up too many answers he didn't want to face and too many more questions he couldn't stand to ask. He could save those for another day - one not so busy with the destruction of the world. But even Eli knew that it was unlikely for that day to come soon. If ever. This he could face. His questions and answers could wait for that never to pass.
Lexi looked at him for a moment, evaluating his words and the serious tone in his eyes. She pressed her lips into a thin line and swallowed slowly. She looked at him for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "Yeah. Ok." She said softly, trying to gather her courage. She got up slowly with him, slipping her hand quickly into his for security and comfort. She stuck behind him like a shadow, following him as they started to maneuver through the ash filled streets. There were bricks and rubble littered everywhere, most of it still aflame or smoking. Lexi's eyes traveled over the rubble, horror filling them. She gulped as she watched a screaming mother cradle her injured child. She looked away quickly, hiding her face against Eli.
As soon as Lexi nodded, Eli was moving again. he didn't know Paris very well, as he had been stationed mostly in America. So he struck out blindly and hoped for the best. Lexi turned towards him, hiding almost, and unconsciously, Eli's hand came up and ran through her hair momentarily, before he glanced at the scene that had moved her so and pulled her away.Coming to something he finally recognized from general knowledge, Eli turned away from the large street, instead heading down a small alley. Champs-Élysées was a landmark, and he was sure there would be plenty of demons in the wide, tree-lined avenue. Finally he stopped, leaning against a door. He had no idea what to do. They had been lucky so far; no demons had thought them any different from the other people. One demon had come so close as to lash out at them, but Eli had grabbed Lexi and run, and the demon had stopped chasing them in favor of easier prey.
Lexi calmed a little at Eli's small reassurance, and she kept moving with him, running when he did, and walking when it was safe. She had stopped looking around a long time ago, keeping her eyes focused on the path instead. She knew where ever she looked she would see horror and despair, and she couldn't bear to look upon that right now. Eli stopped and seemed to finally rest for a moment, leaning casually against a door. Lexi bent over, her hands on her knees as she panted for breath, grateful to have a break, even if it was going to be a short one. Her eyes wandered over the street signs, and they widened. "I know this place..." She whispered, her eyes drifting over the door numbers. "I know someone who lives here! Maybe we can get a room!" She said, walking quickly down the row of doors, looking for number 28. She found it and rapped on the door hard.
It was promptly opened by a panicked chubby little lady with brown curls. "Lexi!" She exclaimed. "I never expected to see you here! Come in! Come in!" She encouraged, waving them both inside before shutting the door quickly again. "How have you been!?" She asked, but before Lexi could answer, she shook her head. "No never mind. You look rather tired. Come I'll show you to a bedroom you can use." She insisted, leading them down the hall in her cozy apartment to a bedroom at the end.
Eli followed slowly, looking up at the hallway and the small apartment inside. He stuck his hands in his pockets, trailing behind the two, taking in the surroundings efficiently. it was remarkable how well this woman was taking their unexpected presence, especially since, in her words, she hadn't expected Lexi. She also probably hadn't been expecting a tall strange man to walk in beside Lexi. It was a good thing he had tucked his gun back into his jeans the second the door opened. He wondered distantly if the woman had even noticed his presence, as she had barely acknowledged him. No matter. He didn't exactly require sleep, seeing he was a demon and all. In fact, he would feel much better canvasing the neighborhood and the nearest parts of Paris to see what exactly was going on and how much destruction had happened already. Access to a TV or the internet would be a good step too, never let it be said that Twitter was not up to date. He ducked through the low doorway to the bedroom - was this apartment made for midgets? - behind the women and stood awkwardly in front of the open doorway, wondering what the woman's relation was to Lexi. Not direct relation, maybe married into the family or just a good friend.
Lexi immediately sank onto the bed in the bedroom, completely and utterly exhausted. "Thanks Margaret. Im sorry for barging in like this..."The woman just shook her head furiously. "No no! Im happy to have you visit. Youll have to tell me how your parents are doing once you've rested. " she insisted. "And who's this?" She asked, motioning to Eli.
Lexi immediately answered. "Eli." Then she thought for a moment. Marge wouldnt approve of strange men in her house, so she had to make something up fast. "My boyfriend."
Marge grinned, bouncing up and down excitedly. "Well then! Ill just let you two get all cozy in here while I go make tea." She said, grinning. She bobbed out of the room and shut the bedroom door on them.
Lexi coulsnt bring herself to look up at Eli she was too nervous of what his reaction would be. She folded and unfolded her hands multiple times.
((I'm so so sorry for not replying in such a long time!))Eli bit his lip, trying not to laugh at Margaret's... what he could only call bounciness, and the expression on Lexi's face when she had lied. "Good lie," he finally settled on, relaxing his face into an expressionless mask once again. "But doesn't family usually bring out the shotgun when the daughter brings in the boyfriend? Or have I been watching too many movies?" he inquired lightly, watching the door shut behind Margaret. It was odd, how she had just accepted that her friend, relative, Eli still didn't know, who lived in America, had shown up at her doorstep in Paris in the middle of what seemed to be the apocalypse with a strange man in tow, and now Margaret was bustling off to make tea while the walls of her city collapsed around her. Humans. Eli shook hi head ruefully. He may have been one once, but now he couldn't even begin to understand them. Women even less.
From what he had heard from Lexi, that was not the image he had had in his mind for her mother. Their relationship, from what Lexi had told him, was completely opposite of what Lilith described. But of course. The perfect daughter, sent to Hell instead of Heaven - the righteous man shall begin it. She was perfect for the one to open the gates to Hell. But Lexi didn't deserve that. The guilt, the weight.
Knowing that any betrayal of the traitorous thoughts running through his head would mean worse than death (he knew death, and it wasn't so bad), Eli schooled his expression into a mask of cold delight at the prospect of Hell on earth. Letting go of Lilith, he smiled.
"Perfect."
Though it was just the opposite.